The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
No. 3 Baseball’s Tinney, Volantis tabbed to Golden Spikes Award preseason watch list
02.06.2026 | Baseball
Prestigious watch list features 55 of the nation’s best amateur players
AUSTIN, Texas — Texas Longhorns Carson Tinney and Dylan Volantis were named to the preseason Golden Spikes Award watch list, USA Baseball announced Friday afternoon, beginning the process of identifying the top amateur baseball player in the country for the 2026 season.
The preseason watch list features 55 of the nation's best amateur players from high school and college baseball based on their body of work from the previous year. The Golden Spikes Award Advisory Board will maintain a rolling list of players, allowing athletes to play themselves into consideration for the award throughout the season.
The complete preseason Golden Spikes Award watch list can be viewed HERE.
A 2025 consensus All-American, Tinney led all Power Four hitters in WRC+ (179) and wOBA (.535), while mounting the third-highest OPS (1.251).
During his sophomore season at Notre Dame, Tinney paced the Irish in 10 offensive categories, headlined by his .348 average, 17 home runs, .498 on-base percentage and .753 slugging.
The 6-foot-4, 240-pound backstop was tabbed the NCBWA District 5 Player of the Year and finished as one of three finalists for the Buster Posey Collegiate National Catcher of the Year Award.
Volantis, who was a semifinalist for the prestigious honor last year, led all freshmen nationally in WHIP (0.88) and saves (12). Among Division I rookies, the 2025 Baseball America National Freshman of the Year also ranked second in ERA (1.94) and B/AVG (.185).
Volantis' 11 saves in league action were the most by an SEC freshman ever, breaking a 22-year-old record held by Ole Miss' Steven Head.
The NCBWA Pitcher of the Year and SEC Pitcher of the Year tied for the 10th-most saves in the country.
Texas opens its second season under head coach Jim Schlossnagle on Feb. 13 against UC Davis. First pitch is set for 6:30 p.m. at UFCU Disch-Falk Field.
